Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks

T

tom winslow

New member
Jun 28, 1998
156
0
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I'm listening . . .

I ain't found my leak yet either.

tw

- --
Thomas P. Winslow
1977 GMC Coca-Cola TZE167V101893
1974/75 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
Web Page: http://www.iredell.com http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Waldo Love
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 1998 12:48 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks

My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All suggestions
appreciated.

Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type) and
Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?

Thought I had a good unit -
Waldo
 
2cents (or less) worth.

If you're using soap and water to check for leaks you might miss a tiny one.
I've chased leaks in the past that I didn't find until I used a leak
detection fluid that I bought to check for propane leaks. It has one of
those fuzzy ball applicators in the cap. Works great and the little bottle I
bought long ago is still over half full and travels with me.

Where did I find the leaks? Fittings. Mostly the outside ones. Some just
needed a little careful tightning and others were replaced.

Re Bilsteins: I've had mine on for 10+ years. Have replaced a few. Bilstein
always made good on the warranty. They have even cross shipped for a 50%
deposit via credit card.
However, some say that KYB is actually a better shock. I happen to be at a
suspension specialist' place right now and will find out the skinny later
this morning. He told me before but as I wasn't about to change so it only
stayed in RAM for a short time :-)

Heinz
enjoying a cool and foggy Stockton morning.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Tom Winslow
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Saturday, November 14, 1998 7:49 AM
Subject: RE: GMC: Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks

>I'm listening . . .
>
>I ain't found my leak yet either.
>
>tw
>
>
>--
>Thomas P. Winslow
>1977 GMC Coca-Cola TZE167V101893
>1974/75 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
>189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
>h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
>E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
>Web Page: http://www.iredell.com http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-gmcmotorhome
>[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Waldo Love
>Sent: Saturday, November 14, 1998 12:48 PM
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Subject: GMC: Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks
>
>
>My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
>haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All suggestions
>appreciated.
>
>Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type) and
>Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
>expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?
>
>Thought I had a good unit -
>Waldo
>
>
 
My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All suggestions
appreciated.

Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type) and
Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?

Thought I had a good unit -
Waldo
 
After reading all of the data on both shocks and comparing the prices I
bought 6 KYB shocks. so far they have been great.

>2cents (or less) worth.
>
>If you're using soap and water to check for leaks you might miss a tiny one.
>I've chased leaks in the past that I didn't find until I used a leak
>detection fluid that I bought to check for propane leaks. It has one of
>those fuzzy ball applicators in the cap. Works great and the little bottle I
>bought long ago is still over half full and travels with me.
>
>Where did I find the leaks? Fittings. Mostly the outside ones. Some just
>needed a little careful tightning and others were replaced.
>
>Re Bilsteins: I've had mine on for 10+ years. Have replaced a few. Bilstein
>always made good on the warranty. They have even cross shipped for a 50%
>deposit via credit card.
>However, some say that KYB is actually a better shock. I happen to be at a
>suspension specialist' place right now and will find out the skinny later
>this morning. He told me before but as I wasn't about to change so it only
>stayed in RAM for a short time :-)
>
>Heinz
>enjoying a cool and foggy Stockton morning.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tom Winslow
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Date: Saturday, November 14, 1998 7:49 AM
>Subject: RE: GMC: Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks
>
>
>>I'm listening . . .
>>
>>I ain't found my leak yet either.
>>
>>tw
>>
>>
>>--
>>Thomas P. Winslow
>>1977 GMC Coca-Cola TZE167V101893
>>1974/75 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
>>189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
>>h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
>>E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
>>Web Page: http://www.iredell.com http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-gmcmotorhome
>>[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Waldo Love
>>Sent: Saturday, November 14, 1998 12:48 PM
>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>Subject: GMC: Air Leak - Suspension system and Bilstein Shocks
>>
>>
>>My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
>>haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All suggestions
>>appreciated.
>>
>>Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type) and
>>Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
>>expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?
>>
>>Thought I had a good unit -
>>Waldo
>>
>>
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
On Sat, 14 Nov 1998 09:48:18 -0800 Waldo Love
writes:
>My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
>haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All
>suggestions
>appreciated.

If you have schrader valves in the air bags, check them for leaks. You
have the vintage under dash air system with circular valves and may need
new "O" rings. Check the tank for a bad schrader valve. Common problem
with front mounted wet tanks is rust.
>
>Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type)
>and
>Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
>expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?

My opinion but KYBs have a lifetime warranty, cost less than the others
and I haven't had any problem with them in the last 100,000 miles.
>
>Thought I had a good unit -

You do, if it is a GMC!

Dave Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Dr PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
>
> Heinz
> enjoying a cool and foggy Stockton morning.
>
> >>
>Do you live in Stockton ? Be careful, my wife has relatives there !
>Justin
>

No, just visiting a client (continous computer/software upgrade). "Camped"
right at the deep channel just west of the turning basin. Kinda neat. I'd
consider throwing a line in, but I'm kinda leery of pulling out a glowing
fish. Of course that's just a guess :-)

Heinz
Langley, BC

BTW, checked re Bilstein vs KYB with the local suspension expert and there
is no definitave answer. Both good (excellent), KYB usually a little less
moola.
 
When I was tracking a leak, I bought a bottle of gas line leak detector fluid
from Sears. It's a spray-on super sensitive liquid that's much easier to apply
and very sensitive for detecting leaks at fittings, etc.
Clark
78 Kingsley
Mid-Michigan
 
I have a small leak in my 76 Birchhaven. I haven't found the leak yet but
a dealer near me installed valves right at the air bag valves. I just
close the valves at night, and never have a problem.

If you are interested he will ship a set of valves anywhere with
installation instructions. His name is:

Ken Frey
215-536-1246

Hope this helps...
Rick (Bayside) Parisi

On Saturday, November 14, 1998 12:48 PM, Waldo Love

> My suspension system leaks down overnight. My maintenance manuals
> haven't arrived yet. What are the most common causes? All suggestions
> appreciated.
>
> Also, comments on wet tank drain valves (the stainless steel type) and
> Bilstein shocks. Are they worth it and are there good (read less
> expensive) alternate sources to Cinnabar?
>
> Thought I had a good unit -
> Waldo
>
>
 
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